“Don’t actually fucking go. Are you serious? I want you to be my wife for a change.”

  I shudder, hoping that he doesn’t mean he wants me to be the lover side of his wife. There isn’t a chance in hell that is going to happen, so it’s time to try something else. He loves to talk about himself, I’ll try that.

  I wander tentatively to the top of the stairs and gaze anxiously down at him. “Why not tell me what’s happening? I know that I might not understand it, but I can be an ear for you, get it off your chest.”

  He walks up the stairs taking two at a time. Everything inside me freezes. This will go one of the two ways. It’ll either be a step in the right direction - only to a positive night, not future, we’re beyond that now - or it’ll be horrific. There’s a dark cloud hanging over him which terrifies me. I don’t like the look of it at all.

  “I can… can make some coffee or something… we can have a nice chat…”

  Shit, he looks different this time. He doesn’t look his normal angry state, this is bad. Whatever the hell is going on with him, it’s awful. I wonder if his business is crashing down. Maybe it’s the crime…

  “Don’t try and talk to me, Nova. Don’t you get it? I hate you. You make me sick.”

  “Then… why are you with me?” I try to back down, but it barely works. His large frame overshadows mine. “Why don’t we just stop being married? Then you can find someone you really want to be with.”

  “Oh, you’d like that, wouldn’t you?” he sneers angrily, spittle flying out of his lips. “You’d love me to leave you. Then you could get a nice hefty payoff and you could carry on without me.”

  “I don’t want your money. It hasn’t ever been about the money.”

  “Oh, come off it. Poor little orphan girl wants a comfortable life. Typical story.”

  “No, that’s not anything I’ve ever wanted. I’m not like that and you know it.”

  “I don’t know anything about you. I thought I did, once upon a time, but the nice girl I married turned into a bitch. Now, you’re nasty and manipulative. I know you just want to get your grubby hands on my cash. How do you think it would look in the business world if I can’t even hold my marriage together? Do you think anyone would respect me if they learned that you’ve vanished? Taking half my money? My stocks would fall, and the company would fall apart. But maybe that’s what you want, for me to lose anything.”

  I need to try, just a little bit. If I can do this in a way that makes it not messy, I would much rather it go down that route. I don’t want to tear Jeremy’s life apart, nor do I want to shock him with this. He’s left me with no choice so far, but perhaps if he’s feeling this way there might be a way to make it okay again.

  “I would do it however you want to. Blame me, say you met someone better, don’t give me anything…”

  “It’s starting to sound like you don’t want to be with me anymore.”

  He knows I don’t, he just wants me to say it, so he can react. That’s the last thing I want him to do!

  “I just think… it would be better for you…”

  “To be a failure,” he snaps. “That’s just fucking perfect. What sort of supportive wife are you?”

  “I’m not trying to…” Desperation consumes me. I can’t say anything right! “I’m sorry.”

  “I just don’t get you, Nova. I give you everything that you want and you’re still ungrateful. I plucked you from a miserable, shitty life and showered you with everything. Now you’re acting like you don’t even like it.”

  “I’m not ungrateful, I appreciate everything that you’ve done, I know you didn’t have to…”

  “So, why are you behaving like a toddler? Why are you throwing your toys out the pram?”

  The feelings that were so valid only a moment before shrinking into oblivion. I guess it is wrong of me to worry about what I want when Jeremy is going through such a hard time. Whatever’s going on, he has been good to me in some ways. I should just continue to divorce him through Zane. Clearly, if he’s so worried about his reputation, that’s going to be horrible enough. Until that happens, I should try to be a nice person…

  “I’m sorry. I’ll be better now.” My voice is calmer, more considered. “You tell me what you need me to do to make your life a little easier and I’ll make it happen. Even if it’s only something to eat.”

  “Your fucking cooking would make my day a million times worse.”

  Don’t rise, he wants you to rise to it. Keeping calm is the best thing to do here.

  “Okay, well how about a drink. You have that brandy, don’t you?”

  He doesn’t answer, so I take that as a confirmation that this is what he wants. I try to creep through the gap so that I can start the journey to a better night, but I don’t quite make it.

  “You aren’t going anywhere.” It seems that Jeremy isn’t quite done with me yet.

  “That hurts,” I plead, trying to peel his fingers off my arm before any permanent bruising is left behind. I know that he won’t want that, anything which can be seen by the public will just wind him up. “Please stop.”

  “You don’t ever listen to me, Nova, that’s the problem with you.” Fire flashes behind his gaze. I don’t think I’ve ever been so terror-struck before. “I hate you, but you have to stay here, I can’t let you go.”

  “You can let me go, it doesn’t need to be problematic, honestly.”

  “Why don’t we go to your favorite little place? The one you think I don’t know about for some reason.”

  My heart stops beating, and it refuses to restart. He shoves me towards the stairs, never quite pushing me down, but I constantly feel the fear that I might tumble all the way down. Jeremy laughs, wanting me to feel that. Then he takes me to the cupboard under the stairs, my secret hide-out, the one place where I feel safe. Somehow, he knows this is where I take solace from the nightmare he’s created around me.

  “You can go in there.” He pushes me hard, smacking my head against the low door frame. “And you can stay in there until you stop all this talk about shattering the life we have together.”

  I fall to the ground in a pathetic heap, the pain in my head aching my vision. The door slams behind me. I know it doesn’t lock but the threat is enough. It seems that Jeremy is taking it up another notch, pushing me even further, trying to see what I’ll take from him. I guess this leaves me with no choice. It’s now or never…

  8

  Zane

  Nova: Help me, please. I’m so sorry to do this to you, I just don’t know where else to turn.

  I stare at the message, reading it over and over again. My eyes growing wider every single time that I do. This is utterly bizarre, not the sort of thing I ever expect to get from a client, but here it is. I keep thinking that she must have sent it to the wrong person and she’s now probably very embarrassed about her mistake, but I know I can’t just do nothing. I know there could be something terrible going on here.

  Zane: Is everything okay? Do you need me to do something?

  There, that leaves it open if she changes her mind or she’s reached out to the wrong person. She can tell me as much and we can both move on with our lives. Things don’t need to be strained all because of an accident.

  Nova: Jeremy is going off on one, this is worse than ever before. I’m scared.

  Okay, so this is meant for me, but I don’t know what I can do about it.

  Zane: Is he threatening you with violence? You should call the cops.

  Nova: He will kill me if I call the police. He fears his reputation being ruined.

  My mind races. My instincts immediately want to rescue the damsel in distress, to save her from her horrible life, but I’m already too involved and Mom’s words of warning race through me.

  Zane: Have you got a friend you can call to take you out of the house?

  Nova: No, my friend is away. That’s why I’m contacting you because I don’t know what else to do.

  My head and heart rage war on each other, I don’t know which one will win out.

  Zane: What would you like me to do? Shall I call you a car?

  Nova: I don’t have anywhere to go, I’m scared. I really don’t know what to do.

  Okay, there isn’t anything that I can do but she’s my client and I need to help her. It’s still very rewarding even if it might not be seen as the right thing to do.

  Zane: Okay, I will come and get you. I can take you to one of those safe houses.

  This is the exact reason why the charity is so important. It gives women with nowhere to go, a place to feel safe. They have protection there and the right facilities in place.

  Nova: Thank you, that would be lovely, I don’t know how I can thank you.

  Zane: Send me the address, then hold tight. I will be there soon.

  She fires off the address where I need to come, and I race to my car. The war still rages on inside me, I’m sure it won’t stop until I see her, but I instinctively feel like I’m doing the right thing. I feel a bit like a hero as I take off at the speed of light to find her. She’s the princess at the top of the damn tower.

  “What’s my plan?” I mutter to myself as I drive. “What will I do when I get there?”

  I can’t just go up to the front door and knock. What the hell will I say? Plus, it’ll alert Jeremy to the fact that I’m working to take his wife away from him. I doubt he’s the kind of man who will take that kindly.

  “I’m going to have to get her out of there somehow, aren’t I? I need a freaking idea…”

  But nothing comes to mind. I get there far too quickly without any ideas. Actually, that’s because I’m so distracted by how incredible the houses are here. My place is big, I do well, but this is billionaires’ row. I know that Jeremy is wealthy, but this is something else. I really am going up against big here.

  “Shit.” I rub my head hard. “What the fuck am I going to do now?”

  I park on the other side of the street and slide out of the car. The problem is I know I’m not going to be able to stay here long because as nice as my car is, it’ll stand out here. The residents of this place will wonder why some stranger is hanging around. I don’t need the cops hanging around, particularly if Nova doesn’t want them.

  I move quickly, under the shadow of darkness, towards Jeremy’s home. My heart pounds violently against my rib cage as I go. I fear it’s so loud that it’ll alert everyone to my presence. It turns out that I’m not cut out to be a spy!

  “Zane!” A whisper grabs my attention, I spin rapidly to see a shadow crouched down in the bushes.

  “Nova?” I take a tentative step forward, trying to see what’s going on. “Is that you?”

  “Yes, it’s me.” She rises ever so slightly. “Is it safe to go? I need to make a run for it.”

  I dart my eyes around, not totally sure what I’m searching for. “It looks clear to me.”

  “If he sees me, I don’t know what he’ll do.” I’ve never seen anyone look so scared in my life. “He might kill you too. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have dragged you into this. Maybe you should just go.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous, I’m here, aren’t I? My car is across the street. Just get inside it.”

  “I’m scared he’s going to find me wherever I go. He might find the charity…”

  “Don’t worry about that now. Just get into my car. Please. We’ll work it out, I promise you.”

  I reach out my hand to her and thankfully, she takes it. I pull her to me and we race across the road together. It’s terrifying and exhilarating all at the same time, I don’t know what the hell is going on. I can’t ask, not at the moment. All I am sure of is getting Nova the hell out of here. I don’t even wait until we have our seat belts on. I hit the gas and take us far away from his house.

  “I can’t believe I did that,” she half giggles after about ten minutes. “I can’t believe I’m out.”

  “You don’t even have any shoes on!” I suddenly notice. “What happened inside that house?”

  “Jeremy shut me in a closet and I don’t know his reasoning really. I’m sure he explained it to me as he was yelling, but I couldn’t take any of it in. I had to wait until I heard him shouting on the phone to rush outside.”

  “Woah, that’s nuts.” She’s braver than she looks. “So, you literally ran away?”

  “I got out of that door and hid behind the bush until you came. I didn’t know what else to do.”

  “And he didn’t come outside?”

  “The last thing I heard was him still yelling. I don’t think he knows that I’m gone yet.”

  “That’s going to be a bitch when he finds out, isn’t it?” I turn to give her a little look. “What will happen?”

  “He’s going to look everywhere for me. That’s what scares me. He won’t stop until he has me back.”

  “Is that why you’re worried about going to the charity shelter? Because they have things in place…”

  “I know, but I don’t think I’ll be able to relax.” Her whole body shakes. “I can’t handle it.”

  Desperation floods her and I feel a bit of it myself. “So, what do you want to do then?”

  “I don’t know. If I’m honest, I didn’t think much beyond getting past that house.” Her eyes fly to the window. “Maybe you should just drop me somewhere and I’ll find a place to hide. I need it to be a secret.”

  “You don’t have any shoes. I can’t imagine you brought any cash with you.”

  “No, but I don’t want any. You’re already doing too much for me.”

  Her pride, even in this situation where she has absolutely nothing, makes me smile. “I wasn’t going to offer you any. The fact that you don’t have anything terrifies me. I don’t want to wake up tomorrow hearing that something has happened to you, on the news or whatever. There are other dangers out there.”

  “Please don’t take me back.” She turns in her chair to literally beg me. “Please, I’ll die there.”

  “I’m not going to take you back. I’m going to take you to my place. You’ll be safe there.”

  “R… really? You would do that for me?”

  “Of course. You need help and that’s what my job is.”

  “That’s not your job, that’s going above and beyond… but thank you, I appreciate it.”

  I smile at her and I can see her gratitude shining through. Much as this is one hundred percent the wrong thing to do, and it puts me in the exact dangerous position that my mom warned me about, I feel good about it. I cannot let anything happen to Nova and this is the only way I can guarantee it.

  We fall into silence as we drive the rest of the journey to my home. As I pull up I can see a bit of a surprise on Nova’s face. She almost looks like she can’t believe this is where I live. For me, it’s very fancy, I didn’t grow up in anything like this, but I suppose for her, it’s plain and unimpressive. She’s used to luxury. Not that it’s brought any happiness. I know I could afford a bigger place, but I’m never going to be the one to flash the cash. I prefer to be more sensible with money because I know how life can change suddenly. Anyway, it’s only a house for me.

  “Right, let’s go inside.” I extend my hand to her. “I promise I will keep you safe.”

  Once inside, she automatically falls into my arms in a hug. Her head rests on my chest. I’m sure she must be able to feel my heart beating. Emotions swirl, everything is intensified by about a thousand. I try to see this as a moment where Nova just wants comfort, exactly like Mom said. She doesn’t need anymore. Whatever I’m feeling is only going on inside me, she doesn’t feel that way at all. Her marriage is in tatters, she’s just run away from home, the last thing she needs is me making everything much more complicated for her.

  “Thank you,” she murmurs quietly against me, her voice vibrating through my whole body. “This means everything to me, I know you have put yourself in an awkward position by being here for me.”

  “You are honestly worth it, Nova. I would do anything for you.”

  Those words just flew out of my mouth, I wasn’t expecting them at all. I don’t quite know how that happened, to be honest. I suck in a deep breath as I realize how honest I’ve been without meaning to. I have to force my eyes to look down at her, to see how she’s reacted. I might need to correct that…

  “Do you mean that?” she asks quietly. “Because that’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.”

  “I…” I should tell her that I just said it, that I don’t quite mean it in that way, but somehow the words don’t make it out from my mouth. “I do mean it,” I accidentally say instead.

  The air hangs thick around us, filled with a deep emotion that I don’t know how to put a name on, just yet. It’s more intense than anything that’s ever come before though. So as Nova rises on the tips of her toes with her lips pursed towards me, the magnet pulls me in. I can’t keep away from her, so there’s no point in even trying, she’s utterly irresistible. I might as well just see where this will lead…

  9

  Nova

  What am I doing? I think as I hooked my hands tighter around his neck. What the hell is all of this?

  I’m cheating on my husband, actually kissing another man, and it feels too incredible for words. I guess, in a way, it’s okay because we aren’t exactly a married couple. Things have been crappy for ages now, years and years, and he isn’t exactly faithful to me. Jeremy knows that we’re done anyway, so I can’t feel too bad about it. Plus, the way Zane has me feeling right now, it’s too phenomenal for words.

  The kiss deepens. I part my lips and allow his tongue to slip inside, my heart racing even faster as he does. His hands grip tightly onto my hips, he wants me right where I am, not that I wish to go anywhere else.

  “Oh, Nova.” His lips move away and explore my exposed throat. “You’re so freaking beautiful.”

  The excitement in me builds up, the taboo nature of this making it much more thrilling. It pools hotly in the pit of my stomach, driving me even more crazy than I already am. I never thought that I would end up here when I tore out of the house without any shoes on, yet here I am, riding the roller coaster of sensation. I know I probably should just take a minute to take stock of what’s happening, but this just feels so right.